The Russian Citroen C5 Aircross even has the right to a “proper” website.

It is clear that we have not finished telling you about this incredible but true story whose improbable character deserves the mysterious departure of Carlos Ghosn in a transport crate in 2019, that of the Russian Citroen C5 Aircross. Because yes, for those who still don’t know, Chevron SUV has recently been sold in Russia, although the group has nothing to do with this country for obvious reasons.

Now the production of this model has started at the factory in Kaluga, near Moscow, it must be sold. For this, the company Automotive Technologies that is behind this file has planned everything, he developed a internet site which is similar in every way to the one we know in France.

An unofficial site, it goes without saying

It was seen by our colleagues there French news. It actually looks like a real website from a French manufacturer. We get a new logo there. We can detect some models that are sold in our latitudes (C3 Aircross, C5 X, etc.) and others that do not match (the old Berlingo, C4 trunk, etc.). It is possible to find “official” distributors and after-sales network on the map.

However, we have used the word “official” in quotation marks on purpose (you will also use these marks in the title of our article). As France Info says, “none of these websites other than these cars showing the chevrons of the French brand have any connection with Stellantis, the group resulting from the merger of Peugeot-Citroën and Fiat-Chrysler” . Finally, only one model can be ordered, the C5 Aircross. A good show but above all it is trompe-l’oeil.

A redesigned model

Finally, we were wondering which version of the C5 Aircross was released on the site, we finally have an answer. In a video published on YouTube, we can go behind the scenes of the production of this model in its Russian establishment. The car appears there, the Russians can order the latest C5 Aircross in its revised variant. Clearly, we hold nothing back at Automotive Technology!

Accessories provided by a Citroën partner

As a reminder, these models are assembled from equipment imported from China. Automotive Technologies partner is none other than Dongfeng Motor… which itself has been the preferred partner of Citroën (and by extension Stellantis) for many years in the Middle Kingdom. Should we expect sanctions from the car giant led by Carlos Tavares? To this, the person interviewed by France Info answered correctly: “Does Stellantis really want to anger the Chinese government considering what it expects from this market?” And of course, there is no question at all of being angry with the Russian government …